ReMeMaRe Postcards from our coast 25-26 - Flipbook - Page 7
Case Study - Chichester Harbour Oyster Reef Project
Project summary
This project will actively restore native oyster reef habitats in Chichester
Harbour to improve water quality, increase biodiversity, enhance the
resilience of adjacent priority habitats such as seagrass and saltmarsh,
address hydromorphological pressures, improve benthic habitat conditions,
and contribute towards achieving 8good ecological status9. Phases 2
(2026/27) and 3 (2027/28) set to increase the total reef area to around 3.5ha
through the deployment of reef material - cultch (a mixture of clean gravel
and cockle shells), followed by the introduction of live oysters.
Outcomes
1 ha of new native oyster
reef created
Phase 2 & 3 can be
progressed hopefully
leading to a total of 3.5ha of
newly created reef over the
next two years
Will contribute to towards
improvements in ecological
status, condition of SSSI &
Natura 2000 sites
Financials
£200,000 WEIF
£703,827 Partnership funding
Lead EA Contact
Rob Waite
Partners
Blue Marine
Foundation
Cultch deployment barge
– Chichester Harbour
Credit: Barny Hobbs, Blue
Marine Foundation
Outputs
1 ha of reef substrate (cultch)
deployed
20,000 live native oysters
deployed on reef
260 volunteers helped with
oyster cleaning
Cultch deployment
Credit: Barny Hobbs, Blue
Marine Foundation
